Chapter 40: A Heart Extinguished

“Done for? What’s done for?”

Huangwei turned serious.

Noah rarely lost her composure, no matter the trouble.

This fear radiated from deep within her.

It overwhelmed her thoughts the moment she realized something.

Huangwei could guess who it involved—

Luoyao.

Others might not know how deep Noah’s feelings for Luoyao ran.

But Huangwei did.

That special human girl was someone Noah loved enough to defy Mom’s orders.

Who else could make Noah this rattled?

“Noah, don’t panic, we—”

“I have to get back now.”

Noah spoke quickly.

She leaped onto the clock tower’s skylight.

Turning back, she said to Huangwei, “If tomorrow’s headlines say a vampire died at the Church’s doorstep, don’t be shocked.”

“It might… be me.”

With that, she opened the window and jumped.

Her figure vanished into the night.

Huangwei stared at the open window.

The late breeze made the old wooden frame creak.

She gazed into the darkness, murmuring, “Come back alive, both of you.”

She took a deep breath, refocusing.

Then continued treating Anna’s wounds.

***

A tall, slim figure darted through the forest.

Noah’s steps were faster than ever.

Sharp branches scratched her cheeks, but she didn’t care.

She bit her red lips, expression grim.

When Huangwei mentioned her dirty shoes, it hit her.

Suyue had seen those shoes at Luoyao’s house today.

With Suyue’s sharp eyes, she likely noticed them during their clash in the alley.

That meant Noah’s connection to Luoyao was exposed.

With Suyue’s maniacal nature, she’d do anything to kill Noah.

Even if she had feelings for Luoyao, so what?

Between “playing love games with an innocent girl” and “killing an S-class vampire,” Suyue would pick the latter.

If Suyue planned to use Luoyao to threaten Noah, things could get worse.

That deranged zealot was capable of any extreme act Noah could imagine.

Love was always humanity’s greatest weakness.

Even Noah, alone for over three centuries, couldn’t escape its trap.

She didn’t dare think what might happen if Suyue had already grabbed Luoyao…

What would that lunatic do to her?

How would she use her to manipulate Noah?

Her thoughts were a mess.

Noah shook her head, speeding up, focusing on the journey.

Ten minutes later, she reached the city.

She raced across rooftops.

The closer she got to Luoyao’s place, the faster her heart pounded.

Her inner conflict grew.

She wanted to see Luoyao soon.

But feared finding an empty apartment…

During their month apart, Noah dreamed of Luoyao countless times.

In dreams, they entwined passionately until dawn.

But when sunlight came, dream-Luoyao vanished.

As if she’d never existed.

Leaving Noah calling her name in an endless dream.

Noah didn’t want that sad nightmare to become reality.

She didn’t want silence answering her calls to Luoyao.

She didn’t want to wake hugging an emotionless Miffy plush.

She wanted Luoyao.

Only Luoyao.

No one else would do!

In a daze, Noah leaped from a building’s edge.

Her nerves made her misjudge the force and angle.

As she neared the next rooftop, her foot slipped—

“Sh*t…”

She lost her footing.

Gravity pulled her down.

She tried adjusting her body.

But she still crashed into balconies, air conditioners, and obstacles between buildings.

Noah tumbled, her body battered before hitting the ground.

The obstacles cushioned her fall.

She didn’t turn to mush.

Clang—

A dull thud echoed in the alley.

Her back screamed with pain.

Falling from several stories, even a vampire’s strength couldn’t fully withstand it.

Noah forced her aching body up.

She leaned on the damp, cold wall, standing shakily.

Her bones were likely broken.

Her organs were damaged to varying degrees.

They were healing, but the pain was real.

Dragging her broken body, Noah staggered out of the alley.

Her injuries robbed her of agility and speed.

She moved like a snail toward Luoyao’s place.

Her blood trailed behind her.

Finally, she reached the building.

She looked up at Luoyao’s window.

The light was still on.

Hope reignited in her heart.

“Almost there, Luoyao, I’m coming…”

Noah clutched her unhealed shoulder, hobbling across the street.

Then, a little girl’s voice called from behind, “Sister, watch out! A truck—”

The last syllable drowned in the truck’s blaring horn.

The world spun.

Noah’s thoughts jumbled together.

She rolled clumsily across the ground.

The truck’s lights shone on her broken body.

Her chest rose weakly, as if her breath could stop any moment.

Pedestrians gathered.

Some called the police.

Some debated if Noah was human or vampire.

Others filmed with their phones.

The little girl shouted, “Someone help!” while dialing 120.

The noise was chaotic, overwhelming.

But it grew fainter, drifting away from Noah…

Was this it?

Was this the end?

Her home was less than a hundred meters away.

Noah, were you really going to lie here like this?

Her eyelids grew heavy.

Her consciousness faded.

The sounds blurred.

She knew she wouldn’t die.

Her injuries just needed time to heal.

But if she didn’t find Luoyao tonight…

She might never find her again.

She’d regret it her whole life.

And a vampire’s life was long.

She closed her eyes.

Her mind and body couldn’t hold on.

“I’m sorry… I’m sorry…”

The lights before her dimmed.

With them, her heart went out.

Before her last sense faded, a familiar scent hit her nose.

“Blood… it’s blood…”

The familiar smell roused her fading will and memory.

“It’s… Luoyao’s blood.”